Transfer of Rhodococcus aichiensis Tsukamura 1982 and Nocardia amarae Lechevalier and Lechevalier 1974 to the genus Gordona as Gordona aichiensis comb. nov. and Gordona amarae comb. nov.

We investigated the taxonomic status of Rhodococcus aichiensis DSM 43978T (T = type strain) and Nocardia amarae DSM 43392T by using both chemotaxonomic and genetic methods. The occurrence of MK-9(H2) as the predominant menaquinone, the presence of relatively long-chain mycolic acids (48 to 62 carbon atoms), and the phylogenetic position as determined by a 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis provide strong evidence that both R. aichiensis and N. amarae should be transferred to the genus Gordona as Gordona aichiensis and Gordona amarae, respectively.